Apparatus for mixing



April 18, 1967 A. FRANKLIN APPARATUS FOR MIXING 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR HENRY ALB BY glean Filed Dec. 23, 1964 ERT FRANKLIN Jd mm i0.

April 18, 1967 F U 3,314,661

APPARATUS FOR MIXING Filed Dec. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORBtiENQY ALBERT FRANKLIN United States Patent Ofiice 3,314,661 PatentedApr. 18, 1967 3,314,661 APPARATUS FOR MIXING Henry Albert Franklin, 250S. Lincoln St., Carpentersville, Ill. 60110 Filed Dec. 23, 1964, Ser.No. 420,537 6 Claims. (Cl. 259--165) The invention relates toimprovements in mixer apparatus and is more particularly concerned withthe construction and assembly of a mixer of asphalt and aggregate.

The mixer apparatus of the present invention is pri marily adapted foruse in an asphalt mixing unit of a type including an aggregate storagebin located to dis charge weighted quantities of aggregate into the'mixer apparatus in conjunction with the discharge thereinto of weightedquantities of liquid asphalt. Heretofore, there has been a considera leproblem of insuring proper mix of the asphalt and aggregate owingprimarily to the man ner in which the liquid asphalt is delivered to themixer apparatus. It has resulted frequently in inadequate coating of theaggregate. In the present disclosure, the liquid asphalt is delivered tothe mixer apparatus in the form of a spray or sprays directed into thevortex of the mass disturbed by the rotating mixer paddles. The spraysare delivered under pressure induced by a pump arranged in the liquid.supply line and said pump is provided with a bypass so as to dischargeair entering same when the supply of liquid asphalt to the pump is outoff.

An object is to provide a novelly constructed mixer apparatus.

Another object is to provide novel means to introduce liquid asphalt toa mixer apparatus.

Another object is to provide novelly constructed spray nozzles.

Another object is to provide a mixer apparatus with novelly constructedpaddles.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character referred towhich is not expensive to construct or assemble, and is very efiicientin use.

' The structure by means of which the above noted and other advantagesof the invention are attained will be described in the followingspecification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mixer apparatus and associateaggregate and liquid asphalt weighing mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the mixer apparatusillustrating one of the two like paddle assemblies therein.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a paddle and spray nozzleassembly.

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view of the liquid asphalt feed systemshowing, associated therewith.

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view of the pump.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the spray discharge into thevortex of the material mix.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure of a mixer apparatus shown in theaccompanying drawings, the apparatus is generally indicated at 11 inFIG. 1. This apparatus is arranged below a hopper 12 located todischarge weighted amounts of aggregate into the open top of theapparatus. Also associated with the apparatus is a liquid asphaltweighing mechanism 13. This mechanism 13 includes a liquid receiver 14adapted, when its valve 15 is open, to discharge a measured quantity ofliquid asphalt into a bucket 16 from where it is conveyed via an outletpipe 17 to a pump 18.

The mixer apparatus 11 comprises an open top housschematically, a paddleassembly 19 having mounted therein a pair of paddle assemblies 21. Thesepaddle assemblies are alike and each includes a shaft 22 that extends tothe outside of each end thereof. The projecting shaft ends on onehousing end mount gears 23 that are meshed with each other so that bothshafts are rotated in opposite directions in unison when power isapplied as through a sprocket 24 carried on one of said shafts.

Each shaft 22 mounts, within housing 19, a plurality of like radiallyextending paddles 25 each preferably having on its outer end a tip 26 ofwear resisting material. Each paddle is preferably fabricated of castmetal and each has a longitudinal bore 27 that terminates near the outerend thereof in a tapped port 28 opening onto the trailing side of thepaddle. The inner end of said bore is in direct communication, through afitting 29, with an axial bore 31 in the shaft mounting the paddle.Preferably, the fitting 29 is tapered so that when the paddle is securedfirmly to the shaft, as by bolts 32, then there is provided a fluidtight fit between the shaft and paddle.

The shaft bore 31 is connected, through a swivel fitting 33 with aconduit 34 leading from pump 18. Thus, when liquid asphalt is delivered,under pump applied pressure, into conduit 34 it is flowed into andthrough the axial bores in the shafts and through the paddle bores 27 tothe tapped ports 28 thereof. Each port 281 is fitted with a spray nozzle35, best shown in FIG. 3.

The spray nozzle 35 may comp-rise a tapered body 36 externally threadedat one end to be mounted in port 28, and having a discharge opening 37.A valve element 38 is arranged within body 36 to coact with opening 37.This valve element is enclosed in a tubular housing 39 that is ventedthrough passage 41 to the outside of body 36. A stem 42 on said elementextends through the end wall of housing 39 and receives threaded thereona nut 43 adjustable to vary the effective size of the discharge opening.A spring 44 retains the element 38 in adjusted position. Thus, there isprovided a regulated valve discharge for the liquid asphalt disposed todischarge its spray into the vortex 45 of the mass contained in themixer housing 19, as illustrated in FIG. 6, and lying immediately behindeach paddle. This mode of introducing the liquid asphalt into the massinsures total coating of the aggregate contained therein and greatlyreduces the mixing time.

The pump 18 is fitted with a bypass 46 including a valve 47 operable toopen when the measuring valve 15 is closed so as to vent air in the pumpand prevent its flow into the shaft bores. These valves prefer-ably aresolenoid controlled so as to be operated in unison. Specifically, whenthe valve 15 is open the valve 47 is closed and vice versa. Inoperation, it is preferred that the paddle assemblies be rotated atabout 25 to 100 revolutions per minute and the liquid spray bedischarged under a pressure varying from 50 to pounds per square inch.

It should be quite evident that applicant has provided a new apparatusfor and novel method of delivering liquid asphalt to anaggregate-asphalt mix in a mixer apparatus and one that insures adequatecoating of all aggregate quickly and efiiciently. Obviously the mixerapparatus is useful for mixing material other than that specificallyreferred to.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description thereofis intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many detailsof the structure and method disclosed may be modified or changed withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I donot desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

ing or container I claim:

1. A mixer apparatus comprising, a container, means to deliver aggregateto said container, a pair of shafts arranged in said container, aplurality of radial paddles mounted on each shaft, said shafts andpaddles having communicating passageways therein, a fluid line connectedto the passageways in each shaft, a pump in said line, a spray nozzle onthe trailing side of each paddle in communication with the passagewaytherein, and means to supply liquid asphalt to said pump for deliveryinto said passageways and discharge through said nozzles.

2. The mixer apparatus recited in claim 1, in which the nozzles areadjustable.

3. The mixer apparatus recited in claim 1, in which the pump has aby-pass to relieve air therein when the flow of liquid zasp hlalt to thepump is stopped.

4. A mixer apparatus comprising, a container, means to deliver aggregateto said container, a shaft arranged in said container, a plurality ofradial paddles mounted on said shaft, said shaft and paddles havingcommunicating passageways therein, a fluid line connected to thepassageway in said shaft, a pump in said line, a spray nozzle on thetrailing side of each paddle in communication with the passagewaytherein, and means to supply liquid asphalt to said pump for deliveryinto said passageways and discharge through said nozzles.

5. A mixer apparatus comprising, a container, means to deliver aggregateto said container, a shaft arranged in said container, :a plurality ofradial paddles mounted on said shaft, said shaft and paddles havingcommunicating passageways, a fluid line connected to the shaftpassagevway, a pump in said line, a spray nozzle on the trailin-g sideof each paddle in communication with the paddle passageway, and means tosupply liquid asphalt to said pump for delivery into said passagewaysand discharge through said nozzles.

6. A mixer apparatus comprising, a container, a shaft arranged in saidcontainer, a plurality of radial paddles mounted on said shaft, saidshaft and paddles having communicating passageways, a fluid lineconnected to the shaft passageway, a spray nozzle on the trailing sideof each paddle in communication with the paddle passageway, and means tosupply liquid asphalt under pressure into said passageways for dischargethrough said nozzles.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,137,294 4/1915Sehroder 259-21 2,861,786 11/1958 Madsen 259-164 3,225,715 12/ 1965 Pagel07-14 FOREIGN PATENTS 880,481 10/1961 Great Britain. 891,731 3/1962Great Britain.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. R. W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A MIXER APPARATUS COMPRISING, A CONTAINER, MEANS TO DELIVER AGGREGATETO SAID CONTAINER, A PAIR OF SHAFTS ARRANGED IN SAID CONTAINER, APLURALITY OF RADIAL PADDLES MOUNTED ON EACH SHAFT, SAID SHAFTS ANDPADDLES HAVING COMMUNICATING PASSAGEWAYS THEREIN, A FLUID LINE CONNECTEDTO THE PASSAGEWAYS IN EACH SHAFT, A PUMP IN SAID LINE, A SPRAY NOZZLE ONTHE TRAILING SIDE OF EACH PADDLE